Evangelists seek the lost in a similar fashion as good shepherds go after lost sheep.
For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NLT)
Love for those without hope motivated God the Father to send his Son to die on a cross as the Lamb of God to rescue us from the consequences of our sin. Love for his Father and a desire to be part of this great salvation plan were the primary motivations for Jesus to voluntarily lay down his life for those who were his enemies.
Love for the God who loves the lost is the first and greatest motivation for the evangelist. Such love for God translates into love for his lost sheep.
Jesus, who is the perfect image and representative of the Father, came to the earth to “seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
His love was and is most amazing because it extends to his enemies.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:8-11 (NLT)
When Jesus began his public ministry, the Bible says that his own people rejected him and his message.
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:10-12 (NLT)
Although many accepted his message and believed that he was indeed the Messiah, the Jewish leaders hated him and eventually put him to death. Jesus knew beforehand that this would happen but was undeterred.
His love for his Father and those who were at that time God’s enemies gave him the strength lay down his own life to rescue them.
Sharing the gospel causes those who are open to it to be saved, but those whose hearts are antagonistic toward God become angry.
Inspired and empowered by God’s Spirit, evangelists are willing to risk their own lives in order to show love to those who are still God’s enemies by sharing the gospel with them.
Jesus taught that his shepherd’s heart was behind his willingness to die for lost sheep.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11 (ESV)
The evangelist is a shepherd at the core, who is sent to those outside the church rather than to those who are already saved.
Whereas shepherds of those who are already in the church are willing to lay down their lives to protect the sheep, the evangelist is willing to lay down his to go after the ones who do not yet know Christ.
Jesus explained that the evangelist experiences more joy over one lost sheep being rescued than he has for a hundred already saved people. (Luke 15:7)
The evangelist is motivated to leave the safety and comfort of the local church to go into the world after the lost, thus fulfilling Christ’s command to “go and make disciples.” (Matthew 28:19)
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Matthew 9:36-38 (NLT)
Evangelists see people with the eyes of the Good Shepherd.
Their hearts go out to the lost, confused, and helpless all around them. They know when they are in the presence of people who need Jesus. Their hearts are pulled toward them. Compassion for the lost not only propels the evangelist into the harvest field of the world, but it motivates him or her to pray for God to raise up more shepherds of the lost.
Evangelists equip others to do the work of evangelism, in fulfillment of the Great Commission mandate to make disciples.
We are able to give away what we have. Through the Holy Spirit, evangelists are able to impart to others their love for the lost.
Prayer
Jesus, I ask you to give me your heart for the lost. Holy Spirit, motivate and empower me to lay down my life for those who are still your enemies. Father God, let me fall so deeply in love with you that I become totally immersed in your will. I want to be someone who puts your glory and honor above all else. Amen.
